372 
Proceedings of Societies. 
[Nov. 
for the same. Dr. Traill alludes to the Meeting of the German Naturalists and 
Physicians at Hamburgh, in September, 1830, where it appears that there was a 
numerous assemblage of literati from all parts of Europe ; those of the medical 
profession held a meeting every 2d day, for the discussion of medical subjects: 
among other topics which occupied their attention at these meetings, Dr. Traill 
mentions that the treatment of Syphilis underwent especial inquiry. That disease 
is now treated at Hamburgh without Mercury, Nitric Acid, or Sarsaparilla; simply 
by frequent ablution, antiphlogistics, and rest. A particular account of this mode 
of treatment was preparing for publication in the West of England Medical 
Journal. 
5th. A letter from Dr. Boswell of Penang, with a short notice of a case of 
Tubercular Sarcoma, occupying the scrotum and penis, and obstructing the flow of 
urine ; in consequence of which, inflammation and ulceration took place about lour 
inches above the symphysis pubis, and an aperture formed there, at which the 
urine was voided. It would appear that the fistula communicated with the urethra 
within the symphysis, and not directly with the bladder ; tor the patient had the 
voluntary power of expelling the urine in a jet with some force, which could not 
have happened unless there existed a power of retaining the urine in the bladder, 
until a considerable quantity had accumulated. 
6th. A letter from Dr. Neil Maxwell, of the 3rd Light Cavalry, at Sultanpore ; 
with a parcel of a dried plant, which is in high estimation among the inhabitants 
in the vicinity of Benares, and with the troopers of the Regiment, for the cure of 
persons poisoned by snake-bites. The natives assert that many persons had been 
cured by this medicine, after suffering the worst symptoms. Dr. Maxwell speaks 
of having forwarded the flower and leaf preserved in spirits, for the purpose of 
having the class and order ascertained. It is to be regretted, that the preparation 
has been lost, as it might have enabled the Society to determine whether the plant 
be the Ophiorrhiza mongos, or the Ophioxylon serpentinum. As far as can he made 
out from the dried specimen, it is either one or other of these plants which has been 
sent to the Society by Dr. Maxwell ; and probably it is not the Ophiorrhiza, as Dr. 
Wallicb observes in a note in the Flora Indica, vol. ii. p. 545. “ The leaves are 
unequal in size in each pair, which is more or less the case in all the species o 
Ophiorrhiza,” and this distinction cannot be seen in the specimens which ba' e 
been received. The natives near Benares name the plant Dandl or Andha D«‘> 
and they assert that it is a certain cure in the worst cases of snake-bites. Dr- 
Maxwell states, that he has not had occasion to prescribe the remedy himself, bn 
that a short time ago he was called to the Hospital to see a man who was re P or !j'. 
by the messenger to be insensible, in consequence of a snake-bite ; on Dr. Maxwe 
arrival, he found the man sitting up in bed, and complaining of great internal bea > 
hut otherwise quite well: the prompt relief in this case was ascribed by the na n 
Doctor, and the other attendants, to the medicine now under consideration, 
entire belief of the natives in the virtues of tliis plant, is considered by Dr. Max« e ^> 
a sufficient ground to cause a series of experiments to be made, for the purpose 
ascertaining the nature of its medical properties. , 
7th. A letter from Dr. Desnoyes, of the Mauritius, promising to draw up ^ 
the Society, an account of the malignant fevers of Madagascar, and of the visce 
disorders which often arise in the course of those fevers. j. s 
The following papers were then read, and discussed by the Society. ^ 
on Dracunculus, by Dr. John Millie, of Bombay. The author is deemet 
opinion that the Dracuncle is not a worm*, but a diseased lymphatic ; " 
he describes, after extraction, to be a slender pellucid tube, varying from the 
ness of the bass string of a violin, to the size of a horse hair. * 20 
Dr. Tytler’s case of eruptive disease of the scalp, occurred in a Hindoo, ^ 
years; it had existed for six months, and had not been cured by the tein ^ 
used by nature. The disease consisted in a species of warts on the scalp, v ^ 
were removed by the knife, after which a caustic application was used tor . 
days, and the disease was cured. A highly finished drawing accompanied t 
In Mr. Boswell’s statement of a singular nervous affection, to which old ^ ^ 
are subject at Penang, he gives an account of a disease, which in sevei a 
* A recent examination of several specimens of Dracunculus, sent from »jj| ner ’» 
to Dr. Duncan of Edinburgh, prove beyond all doubt the incorrectness of Di ■ 1 iral j v e 
opinion. The examination was made by Dr. Grant, professor of . oin ^ 1|V 0 ne 
A natomy in the London University, who has “ no hesitation in pronouncing ck -yjf 
of them to belong to the common species of Guinea worm (Tilaria inedinensisj. 
Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal. No. 10 Q—page 116. 
